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2026 guide

EB-3 visa for caregivers: how it works and how long it takes

A caregiver without a degree can immigrate through EB-3 Other Workers only if a U.S. employer sponsors them. In the October 2026 Visa Bulletin the final action date is January 1, 2022 for Mexico, the Philippines and the rest of the world, so the wait is over 4 years.

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  • Last verified Oct 22, 2026
  • Independent site, not a government agency
A happy caregiver hugs an elderly woman in a wheelchair on the porch of an American house

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By Luis Fernando Garcia. Official sources verified Oct 22, 2026.

Steps

  1. The employer obtains a PERM labor certification from the Department of Labor (DOL).
  2. The employer files Form I-140 with USCIS. Your priority date is the PERM filing date.
  3. You wait until your priority date is earlier than the date in the Visa Bulletin.
  4. Consular interview abroad or adjustment of status in the U.S.

Visa Bulletin dates, October 2026 (Other Workers)

CountryFinal actionDates for filing
Rest of world, Mexico, PhilippinesJan 1, 2022Jun 1, 2022
ChinaOct 1, 2019Oct 1, 2020
IndiaJan 1, 2014Jan 15, 2015

Verified October 22, 2026. Dates change every month. The annual Other Workers limit is 10,000 visas, minus the NACARA reduction.

Next: how to avoid recruitment fraud and, if you are a nurse, EB-3 Schedule A.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the EB-3 Other Workers visa take?

It depends on your priority date. In the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, the final action date for Other Workers from Mexico, the Philippines and the rest of the world is January 1, 2022. Cases filed more than 4 years ago are being processed now, not counting the labor certification time.

Do I have to pay an agency?

No. Under 20 CFR 656.12 the worker must not pay the costs of the PERM labor certification. Be wary of anyone who charges you for a job or a visa.

Can I apply on my own?

No. EB-3 requires a U.S. employer to file the labor certification and the I-140 petition.

Sources

  1. Visa Bulletin, October 2026: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2027/visa-bulletin-for-october-2026.htmlOfficial
  2. USCIS, EB-3: https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/permanent-workers/employment-based-immigration-third-preference-eb-3Official
  3. DOL, PERM labor certification: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor/programs/permanentOfficial
  4. 20 CFR 656.12: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-20/chapter-V/part-656/subpart-C/section-656.12Official

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